How showings work

Can I tour a Miami condo without signing a buyer agreement?

You can ask about a Miami condo or request a tour without signing an agreement on CondoInvestMiami. Sending a request is the first step in arranging access; it is not a confirmed appointment. The licensed real estate agent who receives your request will check availability and discuss the next steps with you.

A showing includes an in-person visit or a live video tour in which an agent tours a home with you or at your direction. Under the NAR rules, an MLS participant working with a buyer must have a written buyer agreement before that tour begins. Simply asking questions, watching a previously recorded video, or attending an open house on your own does not, by itself, require that agreement. Different circumstances can involve different responsibilities, so ask the agent which arrangement applies to your visit.

The important distinction is between contacting a portal and starting to work with a broker on a covered tour. Submitting your preferred home, date or tour type does not settle representation or compensation terms. Before arranging access, ask the agent what services they would provide and when the written agreement would be needed. A live video visit led by the agent is not an exception simply because you are watching remotely.

Open houses: touring without paperwork

If you attend an advertised open house independently, NAR's rule does not require a buyer agreement merely to look around. The agent hosting for the seller can explain the property without automatically becoming your buyer-side professional. This is different from asking an agent who is working with you to identify homes, plan visits or tour on your behalf. Discuss their role before assuming that an open-house visit and an arranged private showing follow the same process.

The heading refers to buyer-agreement paperwork, not every possible access requirement. Ask whether visitor registration or a building's entry procedure applies. MIAMI REALTORS also distinguishes seller-only access from a transaction broker facilitating for both sides. Do not assume that the words "listing agent" remove the agreement requirement in every situation. Clarify whether the professional is only acting for the seller or is also providing services to you.

Can the agreement cover only one day or specific homes?

The agreement describes the services the brokerage will provide and the terms you accept. NAR does not require an exclusive relationship or a particular duration. You can discuss non-exclusive options and an agreement limited to specified homes or a short period. Read the actual document: the homes covered, duration, termination provisions and any continuing obligations should reflect what you and the brokerage agree.

You can ask for the scope to identify the properties you want to visit and for the start and end dates to fit that outing. A one-day or specific-home arrangement is an option to discuss, not a term this portal can guarantee. Ask whether the proposed document is exclusive, what happens if plans change, and whether any obligations continue after it ends. Short duration does not remove compensation provisions. Any changes should be agreed with the brokerage and reflected in the document before you sign.

Can I see several condos in one outing?

An agent can discuss arranging several visits as one itinerary, subject to each property's availability and access requirements. Tell the agent which homes matter most and whether your timing is flexible. They can contact the relevant listing parties, check available appointments and consider travel time between buildings. The agent may need to propose another time or split the visits into more than one outing if access cannot be coordinated.

Discuss the intended homes when reviewing the agreement so its scope matches the services you are requesting. A request for several visits is not confirmation that every property can be shown together. The agent confirms the appointments and explains any building-specific instructions. If you add another home later, ask whether the existing agreement covers it or whether an agreed change is needed. This describes what the agent can arrange, not an automatic scheduling service provided by CondoInvestMiami.

What changed in Miami after the NAR settlement?

NAR's practice changes took effect on August 17, 2024. They require an MLS participant working with a buyer to enter a written buyer agreement before a covered home tour. This is an NAR/MLS practice requirement, not a claim that every person who visits a property is subject to a universal Florida signing law. MIAMI REALTORS publishes local implementation guidance that explains the professional's role and the difference between seller-side access and working with a buyer.

Under NAR's rules, the written agreement must explain the compensation amount or an objectively ascertainable method for determining it, state that the brokerage cannot receive more than the agreed amount, and clearly disclose that broker compensation is not set by law and is negotiable. It must also include applicable legally required provisions. CondoInvestMiami does not set these terms, prepare the brokerage's agreement or provide legal advice.

The changes also removed offers of broker compensation from the MLS. That does not mean a seller can never contribute to buyer-broker compensation, or that every buyer must pay the same amount. Discuss possible payment arrangements and any responsibility you would have under the actual document. Do not assume that a tour is free or that the seller will pay simply because a listing is visible online.

Official guidance: NAR's Written Buyer Agreements 101; MIAMI REALTORS buyer-agreement questions.

What CondoInvestMiami does and does not do

CondoInvestMiami is a condo search and building-research portal, not a real estate agency. It publishes property information and provides a way to send inquiries. A licensed Florida real estate agent handles the professional services discussed with you, the brokerage's buyer agreement and the showing arrangements. The website does not choose the agreement's scope, promise non-exclusive terms or decide what compensation you will owe.

After reviewing your request, the agent can email you an e-signature link for signing from your phone. You can also ask to sign on the agent's phone before entering the property. Ask questions before signing and keep a copy of the completed document. The agent, not this website, handles the agreement and confirms the showing.

The portal does not replace the agent's explanation of the document or legal advice about its effect. If a provision is unclear, ask for clarification before accepting it. Keep the agreement separate from the site's Terms and Privacy Policy: accepting website terms is not the same as agreeing to buyer-broker services. The agent should confirm access and the agreed next steps; the inquiry itself does not reserve a showing.